Lindsey Vonn has been racing onto the podium for the first time since her comeback. The US legend also rubs the historic coup under its critics.
Lindsey Vonn screamed “Yes”, “Yes”, “Yes”, again and again, she sank overwhelmed into the snow, she cried at the award ceremony.
And when the comeback queen had brought their emotions under control after a historical race, she also treated herself a sip of sparkling wine. From a plastic cup, probably alcohol-free, something else is usually not allowed in the USA in the open-air. “This day,” said Vonn, “means everything.”
Great satisfaction at Lindsey vonn
In fact, he was a special day at the final of the Alpine World Ski World Cup in the US state of Idaho: second place at the last Super-G of the season, Vonn’s first podium after 2565 days and since returning to the racetracks in December-a coup.
“It feels good when you are finally rewarded. It was a joy. Relief. And satisfaction that this adventure I got involved with is worth something,” she said of her outbursts.
Particularly important for the record -loving Americans: This second place is also of historical importance. Vonn is now the oldest ski racer at the age of 40, five months and five days, who made it to the podium in a World Cup competition. The previous record holder Alexandra Meissnitzer from Austria was 34 years old, eight months and 25 days old while driving to Bormio Super-G in the 2007/08 season.
“Now I have proven the opposite”
But more importantly for Vonn: she finally showed it to the critics who had accompanied her comeback after five and a half years of race break, especially with a partially restored right knee, with skepticism. “People said I couldn’t be too old, I wasn’t good enough anymore. And it was sometimes difficult to stay positive,” she said about her “up and down” in a “hard season”. But now, emphasized Vonn, “I have proven the opposite”.
And of course the evidence has not yet been completed. “I know that I can ski at this level,” said Vonn. And, respect, declaration of war: she knew “that I can be even better”, after this race she is now finally “on the street to Cortina”. Because that is and finally remained the big goal of the 2010 Olympic champion: the https://www.sport1.de/channel/Olympia games 2026 – on a route on which she won twelve times.
After that, it is certain, steps back. Finally.